PRP or Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy is one of the most popular anti-aging treatments on the market today, but it may surprise you to learn that historically, PRP was used within sports medicine to treat muscular injuries. In this blog, we will explore PRP for knee injuries and how it works.
PRP injections in sports medicine are generally utilised in soft tissue injuries, known to have poor healing properties, including tendon and ligament injuries where the natural healing process can be slower.
The treatment has been used successfully on several leading athletes, including Tiger Woods, Alex Rodriguez, Kobe Bryant, and Jermaine Defoe suffering from sports injuries. Studies are ongoing into the benefits of PRP for knee injuries, but research has demonstrated positive results.
PRP has been proven effective in treating injuries such as:
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Early osteoarthritis
• Chronic muscle injuries
• Chronic ligament injuries (including on the knees, ankles, elbows, and wrists
• Chondral injuries
So, how does PRP work? Well works by using vital nutrients found within the blood to kick-start the body’s natural healing process and stimulate collagen production.
Human blood contains several key nutrients that each play a pivotal role in supporting body and skin functionality. These nutrients include plasma, a yellowish substance used to carry water, salts, and enzymes around the body, platelets, which support coagulation, and vital proteins known as growth factors to support overall health.
During treatment, a doctor will separate each of these key nutrients from the blood, and inject them underneath the skin, causing the body to begin healing.
The overall PRP process begins in a very similar manner to a routine blood test. The doctor will first extract blood from your arm, then place it into a special centrifuge that is designed to spin the blood and separate it from the individual key nutrients.
It is these nutrients that are injected into the treatment area. In sports injury treatments, ultrasound guidance may be used for accuracy to ensure the PRP injections reach the intended area.
In PRP for knee injuries, more than one treatment may be required for best results. Each session will be spaced several weeks apart to allow adequate tissue healing time. The exact number of treatments needed will vary depending on the individual’s injury, and circumstances.
Once symptoms begin to improve, and PRP treatments are stopped, a comprehensive rehabilitation program may be recommended to further support functional tissue healing, and support strength and flexibility.
PRP is one of the safest treatments on the market, with no harmful effects, or complications. This is because it utilises nothing but the patient’s blood, with no other additives. Following treatment, it is normal for the patient to experience slight redness, bruising, and tenderness around the injection site, which will heal within a couple of days.
Whilst PRP is safe for all skin types, ages, and ethnicities, some medical conditions may impact suitability for PRP therapy. Conditions include:
– Pregnancy
– HIV/ Aids
– Cancers of the blood and skin
– Cardiovascular diseases that require the use of blood thinners